Emergency mobile notification handling

Abstract

Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages such as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) alerts. In one example, a mobile communications device receives a text-based emergency alert message, converts at least some of the message content into an audio format, and then audibly plays the message. Such a system may enable additional persons to receive emergency notifications who otherwise may not receive them, for example, persons with visual impairments, or persons using communications devices that are unable to display text. In another example arrangement, a response center receives a text-based message, recognizes that a particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based message, derives from the content of the text-based electronic notification message data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic notification message into an audio format, and transmits the data or signals to the communications device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mobile communications device, comprising:
 a transceiver; 
 a microprocessor; and 
 a computer readable memory, the computer readable memory holding instructions that, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the mobile communications device to: 
 receive a text-based emergency notification message; 
 derive, using automated text-to-speech conversion, from the content of the text-based emergency notification message, data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based emergency notification message into an audio format; and 
 audibly play the audio rendition of at least some of the content of the text-based emergency notification message. 
 
     
     
       2. The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
       3. The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device is incapable of displaying text. 
     
     
       4. The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile communications device includes a simplified user interface comprising:
 a speaker; 
 a microphone; and 
 one and only one button. 
 
     
     
       5. The mobile communications device of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency notification message is in a first language, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor further cause the mobile communications device to obtain a translation of the emergency notification message to a second language. 
     
     
       6. A machine-implemented method of operating a response center, the method comprising:
 receiving a text-based electronic notification message; 
 automatically recognizing that a particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message; 
 in response to the recognition that the communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message, deriving, from the content of the text-based electronic notification message, data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic notification message into an audio format; and 
 transmitting the data or signals to the communications device. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein automatically recognizing that the particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message further comprises retrieving a previously-stored specification of the communications device. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 6 , wherein automatically recognizing that the particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message further comprises:
 sending an electronic request message to the communications device, the electronic request message requesting information from the communications device usable to determine whether the communications device is capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message; and 
 receiving an electronic answer message including the requested information. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 6 , wherein automatically recognizing that the particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message further comprises:
 placing a telephone call to the communications device; 
 requesting from the communications device information usable to determine whether the communications device is capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message; and 
 receiving the requested information via the telephone call connection. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the telephone call, to the communications device is placed from a particular telephone number reserved for such data-requesting calls. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 6 , wherein automatically recognizing that the particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message further comprises receiving a message pushed from the communications device, the message including information usable to determine whether the communications device is capable of displaying the text-based electronic notification message. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising recognizing that the text-based electronic message is an emergency notification message. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the emergency notification message is received from another remote client communication device other than from the particular communications device. 
     
     
       14. A method of operating a response center, the method comprising:
 receiving, at the response center, a text-based electronic emergency notification message that originated from an official emergency alert gateway and is targeted to a particular geographical area; 
 identifying one or more remote communications devices that are associated with clients of the private response center and that are within the geographical area to which the text-based electronic emergency notification message is targeted; and 
 transmitting a respective message to each of the one or more identified remote communications devices, the respective messages including notice of at least some of the content of the text-based electronic emergency notification message. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 automatically recognizing that a particular one of the remote communications devices is incapable of displaying the text-based electronic emergency notification message; and 
 in response to the recognition that the communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based electronic emergency notification message, deriving, from the content of the text-based electronic emergency notification message, data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic emergency notification message into an audio format; 
 wherein transmitting the respective message to the particular communications device comprises transmitting the data or signals. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 automatically recognizing that a particular one of the remote communications devices can display text but is not capable of having received the text-based emergency notification message directly from the official emergency alert gateway; and 
 forwarding at least some of the content of the text-based emergency notification message to the particular remote communications device in a text format. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 automatically recognizing that a user of particular one of the remote communications devices is visually impaired; and 
 in response to the recognition that the user of the particular communications device is visually impaired, deriving, from the content of the text-based electronic emergency notification message, data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic emergency notification message into an audio format; 
 wherein transmitting the respective message to the particular communications device comprises transmitting the data or signals. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 14 , wherein transmitting the respective message to a particular one of the remote communications devices comprises forwarding the text-based electronic emergency notification message. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving the text-based electronic emergency notification message comprises receiving the text-based electronic emergency notification message directly from the official emergency alert gateway. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 14 , wherein receiving the text-based electronic emergency notification message comprises receiving the text-based electronic emergency notification message from a communications device associated with a client of the private response center.